On January 1, 2025, Tajikistan officially assumed the chairmanship of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), marking the start of a year-long presidency that, according to the country's ministry of foreign affairs, will focus on reforming the organization and enhancing cooperation among member states.
Agenda of Reform and Collaboration
Tajikistan’s presidency will feature 113 planned events throughout the year, covering a broad range of activities aimed at strengthening ties within the CIS. The country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Tajikistan’s leadership will be guided by international law principles as outlined in the United Nations Charter, as well as key foundational documents of the CIS.
In particular, Tajikistan’s chairmanship will prioritize discussions on improving the effectiveness of the CIS.
“The innovative idea of the Tajik chairmanship will be to launch a discussion on improving the CIS activities. In this context, special consultations will be initiated in the Republic of Tajikistan and the Executive Committee with the participation of interested ministries and departments to develop proposals in this direction. This innovative work will be carried out in accordance with the Concept for Further Development of the CIS and other conceptual documents. The first expert consultations will take place on January 24 in Minsk,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs added.
CIS and UN Collaboration
In a historic move, Tajikistan’s chairmanship will also bring the CIS closer to the United Nations. For the first time in the history of the CIS, a high-level event will take place during the UN General Assembly Week in September 2025. This event, to be held at the UN Headquarters in New York, will highlight the increasing cooperation between the two organizations.
Tajikistan’s leadership is also committed to supporting the adoption of a new UN General Assembly resolution focused on strengthening cooperation between the CIS and the United Nations, further solidifying the relationship between the two bodies.
Continued Efforts for International Cooperation
In addition to reform discussions, Tajikistan’s chairmanship will continue to facilitate the development of joint statements on key global issues. These statements will be created through consultations with heads of state and foreign ministers from the CIS member states, addressing matters of mutual interest on the international stage.
What is the Commonwealth of Independent States
The CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) is a regional organization made up of former republics of the Soviet Union, which came into being after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991. The CIS was formed to foster cooperation in political, economic, and military matters, as well as to promote cultural and humanitarian exchanges among its member states.
Initially, the CIS included most of the former Soviet republics, but over time, some countries chose not to join or later left the organization. As of now, the CIS comprises nine full members: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Turkmenistan and Ukraine are not members, although Turkmenistan maintains a neutral status with the organization.
Key objectives of the CIS include:
1.Political cooperation: Promoting the peaceful resolution of conflicts, maintaining stability in the region, and coordinating foreign policy on common issues.
2.Economic cooperation: Facilitating trade and economic integration among member states, including common markets and regional economic development initiatives.
3.Security: Ensuring regional security, combating organized crime, and coordinating defense efforts.
4.Humanitarian and cultural ties: Promoting the exchange of ideas, knowledge, and resources between member states, particularly in fields like education, science, and cultural cooperation.
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